Melanie and Chuck: Wedding Preview

Here's a quick preview from Melanie and Chuck's wedding this past weekend. More to come in a few weeks!

Tara & Matt's Wedding Preview

Here's a quick preview from Tara & Matt's wedding last weekend. The forecast leading up to their big day was calling for rain, so we encouraged them to rent some umbrellas from Bella Umbrella just in case. It actually turned out to be a beautiful day, but we couldn't resist pulling out these gorgeous vintage umbrellas for a bit of old-fashioned fun. :)




To preregister to view all of Tara & Matt's photos, and to receive a complimentary credit toward prints, click here. And, be sure to check back here in a few weeks for more photos from their wedding!

~Airika

Brianna & Ryan's Wedding Slideshow

Venue, Hair, Makeup & Catering: Semiahmoo Resort
Bridal Gown & Dresses: Bellevue Bridal Boutique
Tiara: Belle Aire Bridal
Shoes: Nina Shoes
Tuxedos: Men's Wearhouse
Photographer: Gerald Pope Photography :)
Musicians: Groove House
Cake: Let Them Eat Cake
Flowers: Rachael Dewey
Decor: Brianna's Brilliant Artistry ;)



To view your slideshow in its own screen, click here. To view all of your wedding photos, click here. Enjoy!

Brianna & Ryan: Semiahmoo Wedding

I love destination weddings, even when they're not very far away. Brianna and Ryan were married at Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine, WA, and the whole weekend was nothing short of spectacular. It's such a beautiful location, and we never saw a cloud the entire time that we were there. Just thinking about it makes me feel all warm inside!

We met Brianna a few years ago, when she was bridesmaid in Neyssa & Derek's wedding at Snoqualmie Ridge. Now, it was Neyssa's turn to stand by and serve Brianna on her own wedding day. These two love each other like sisters, and it was such a privilege for us to be able to capture both of their wedding days.


Why is it that the guys ALWAYS get the short end of the stick when it comes to getting ready rooms? ;)

Brianna and Ryan didn't want to see each other before the ceremony, so we took them each out with their wedding parties to get a few shots. Airika and I had a chance to explore the grounds the day before and we found some really cool locations!

Brianna's dress and flowers were absolutely gorgeous. It's hard to believe that she arranged all of the flowers with the help of some friends and family. Not only did she do an amazing job, but she remained pretty stress-free throughout the entire process. I (Airika) can't imagine what shape I would have been in had I tried to do ANYTHING other than get ready on my wedding day.

This food almost makes me think that being a vegetarian wouldn't be so bad. Almost.

Mhmm...cakes by Let Them Eat Cake in Bellingham are uh-MAZ-ing.

Brianna was blissfully happy--I don't think this smile left her face her entire wedding day.

Come back tomorrow to see their slideshow!

Lydia & Joao's Wedding Slideshow

Wedding Venue: Private Residence, Agoura Hills, CA
After Shoot Venue: Four Seasons Westlake Village
Photography: Airika & Gerald Pope
Floral & Event Design: Shawna Yamamoto
Wedding Coordinator: Danielle Desouza
Hair: John of Italy
Catering: Merlin's Kitchen
Cake: Hansen's Cakes
Party Rentals: Conejo Rental Center
DJ: Moises Rodriguez

Lydia & Joao~the song in your slideshow was written by a friend of ours. She actually sang it at our wedding six years ago, and it was the first song that came to mind when I thought of the journey that you're on together. Enjoy. You are beautiful.



To view Lydia & joao's Slideshow in its own screen, click here. To preregister to view all of their photos, click here. Please note that in honor of Lydia's sister Maura, all print sale proceeds from their wedding will be donated to the MD Anderson Cancer Center for Sarcoma Research.

Airika

Lydia and Joao: The Day After

The day after their wedding, we met up with Lydia and Joao one more time for their day after session. It was such a fun and relaxing morning! We had breakfast together, then wandered the grounds of the Four Seasons at Westlake Village with no schedule, nowhere to be, and no one else around. What a beautiful way for them to start off their first day of marriage!

A Reflection on Life & Dreams: Lydia & Joao's Wedding

Over the past few months, Airika and I have spent a lot of time reflecting on our business, our selves, and why we are photographers. Sure, photography helps us pay the bills and provide for our needs, but that's definitely not what drives and motivates us. And of course we love photography; there are few things we enjoy more or feel as passionately about than creating images that are beautiful, artistic, and meaningful. But there is more to it than that, too.

For us, it all comes down to our desire to share the gifts and abilities that God has given us with those he brings into our life. We have been incredibly blessed, and there is nothing more rewarding than turning around and giving back our time and our talent--this is what feeds our souls and gives our lives meaning--it's why we fell in love with photography, and it's what makes our pursuit of this business worthwhile.

This is really where Lydia and Joao come in. Back in May we received an email from Airika's sister, Hannah, asking us to pray for her friend Lydia. Lydia was originally planning to get married today (September 10), but her younger sister Maura, who was going to be her maid of honor, had just passed away after a year-long battle with cancer. Airika and I both have younger siblings, and we couldn't even begin to imagine what she was going through. No one should have to go through the pain of losing a sibling, something made even more difficult when trying to plan for one of the most important days in their life. Because of everything that happened, Lydia and Joao's wedding plans were completely changed, and Lydia thought that she could no longer have the wedding of her dreams. A big New York wedding was no longer in the cards, and they were now looking at a small, simple summer ceremony at a relative's house in California.

Once they had a new date and a new venue, Lydia and Joao called us to see if it would be possible for us to photograph their wedding. The more we talked to Lydia, the more we saw that she is a passionate woman, full of life and a deep love for those around her. We knew that there was nothing we could do to take away the pain of losing her sister, but we felt very strongly that we had to do something. So we offered to give what we could as photographers – our time.

After making arrangements to fly down for their wedding, we called one of our favorite Southern California event designers, Shawna Yamamoto, and shared Lydia's story. We were thrilled when she offered to design and decorate the entire event for Lydia and Joao! We really can't say enough about Shawna and her husband and it was our joy to partner with them in giving Lydia the wedding of her dreams.

We hope you enjoy Lydia & Joao's photos, and that as you witness the love and joy that they share, you will be inspired to begin looking for new ways to be a blessing to those you come into contact with in your own lives.

Lydia and Joao~It has been such a blessing to work with you, and we hope that these moments bring smiles to your faces and joy to your hearts. Much love~Gerald & Airika

We got to spend a few minutes with just Lydia and Joao right after the ceremony, but we didn't want to eat up time that they could be spending with family. Instead, we offered to give them a day-after fashion shoot. Photos from that will be in our next post...

If you are interested in reading more about Lydia's sister Maura, her story, and how you can help further the cure research for sarcoma cancer, visit Lydia’s mother's blog, Maura. Life After. or Lydia's blog at Life. After. Maura.

Lydia and Joao: Intimate Wedding Rehearsal

The weekend we spent with Lydia, Joao, their family and friends down in Agoura Hills, CA was incredible for a lot of different reasons. We had never actually met in person until we arrived at their rehearsal the day before the wedding. The entire evening served to confirm what we already suspected... these two are their own separate breed of amazing! Here are a few moments we captured during their rehearsal.




One of our favorite moments from the evening was the toasts. Their hilarious and heart-felt stories, with a good mix of encouragement and inspiration. Everyone shared, even if was just one word to describe Lydia and Joao...

Joyful * Cute * Hilarious * Connected * United * Victorious * Precious * Inspiring * Lovely * Loving * Crazy * Happy * Christ-centered * Supernatural * Bright * Trusting * Meant for each other

(Airika's really quick with the notepad on her iPhone)

Julie & Jeff: Vow Renewals at Salish Lodge

When Julie called us a few weeks ago, she invited us in to a very private renewal of their vows at Salish Lodge. The only people in attendance would be Julie, Jeff, the minister who married them, and me. Or... so she thought. Secretly, Jeff had invited just a few friends to be there to celebrate with them. The entire evening was exceptional. The amount of time and effort and love they put into this was a true testament to how much they value and care for one another.

In many ways, watching them was a beautiful lesson on what love should be about. You could just see it in their eyes, in the way they interacted; they are deeply in love and they are intent on keeping it that way. That's not an easy task but it is definitely worth the effort. No matter who you are or how long you have been married, do what you can to renew your love for each other every day. Taking the time daily be thoughtful and generous and attentive will go a long way to making your marriage long and full of joy.












Gerald